Higdon’s appointment is effective March 15 and runs through Dec. 31, 2016. He replaces Tony Dehner, who was appointed distilled spirits administrator. Dehner had been commissioner since May 2009.

Higdon is a partner in the law firm of Spragens & Higdon in Lebanon, where he has practiced since 1976. He was appointed a special justice to the Kentucky Supreme Court in August 2008. He received his law degree from the University of Louisville in 1975 and became a certified public accountant in 1976.

Higdon was a senior tax specialist with the Louisville firm Peat, Marwick & Mitchell & Co., (now KPMG), and was an accountant for Coopers and Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). He is chairman of the Western Kentucky University Board of Regents and is active in a number of Lebanon and Marion County civic activities.

Higdon said he requested the March 15 starting date to get his personal business in order. He is a cousin of state Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon.